Chapter of Honolulu

The Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts (MOCA) was founded in 1971 after the passage of the Percent for Art law in 1967 that established the Art in City Buildings Program.

The mission of MOCA is to promote the value of arts and culture throughout communities in the City and County of Honolulu. MOCA's objectives are to attain per-eminence in culture and the arts; to perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritages of its entire people; to promote a community environment, which provides equal and abundant opportunity for exposure to culture and the arts in all its forms; and to encourage and provide equal opportunity for the development of culture and the artistic talents of the people of Honolulu.

Guided by the belief and affirmation of cultural self-determination, MOCA works as a partner and catalyst for increasing opportunities, awareness and involvement in cultural activities for the benefit of all. In this capacity, MOCA administers the Art in City Buildings Program, culture and Arts Programs, and a Collaborative Arts Program.

Over the past 40 years, the Commission on Culture and the Arts has assisted the City in acquiring more than 900 items that share and perpetuate the cultural heritage of Honolulu.

These items are now available for viewing

through our on-line database. Please click on

the link below for more information on the

City's collection.

Any person from the Mainland will probably experience a little bit of culture shock when they first arrive in the Honolulu airport. The demographic composition of Hawaiians is considerably different from that of any of the other 49 states, with its significant Asian/Asian-American population. The climate, culture, and colors are all noticeably different from what one would experience on the continental U.S. Unless you arrange for it, no one is going to show up and put a lei around your neck. Fashion is more laid back (slippers, or what you would call flip flops or thongs, are worn everywhere) and life in general slows down considerably. Things don’t always run on schedule, but relax -- you’re in paradise! But the major surprise for many visitors of Honolulu is that it is a bustling cosmopolitan area, not exactly one imagines when thinking of Hawaii. While there are plenty of areas with the renowned natural beauty of Hawaii, there are plenty of options in terms of eating, shopping, and nightlife.

While most tourists tend to hang around the Waikiki area, Honolulu’s cultural sites dot the downtown areas as well. Any visitor wishing to truly see Honolulu should minimize their time in Waikiki and venture into other areas and chill with the locals. Venture to the Kapahulu area, a neighborhood on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki. Along Kapahulu Avenue, you'll find a variety of affordable ethnic restaurants ranging from Hawaiian to Chinese to Mediterrean to Thai. A quick trip into Chinatown will expose you to many options for good, cheap food as well as the new thriving art scene in the area. Stop by the Iolani Palace and see a glimpse of the royal life before Hawaii became a part of the U.S. There is plenty of history and culture to absorb, so don’t spend all your time sunning on the beach!

Other than the obvious in downtown or Chinatown for the tourist. You should also visit Bishop Museum to learn some Hawaiian culture in the past. Also try to find where the local musicians play live Hawaiian music along with hula dancers showing off their moves. Dance and music is an important culture in Hawaii.

If you visit Honolulu simply for the wide Pacific beaches, the striking views of Ko'olau's pali (cliffs) and the laid-back "aloha" feeling, you'll be missing out on much this city has to offer. Explore stunning Oahu landscapes and tropical rain forests, take in the vibrant downtown arts scene and visit the Bishop Museum and the memorial at Pearl Harbor for a bit of history. But don't skip the surf! Dive into the deep blue waters, take a night stroll on the tiki-torch-lit beach or hang ten on the waves.

Oahu has a population of about 1 million, including military personnel stationed on the island. About half of the residents live in the greater Honolulu area. The major ethnic groups represented in the population are Caucasian (20%), Hawaiian/Polynesian (20%), Japanese (20%), Filipino (15%), and Chinese (5%). Like the rest of Hawaii, Oahu is a great “melting pot,” with the remaining 20% of the residents being from various and mixed ethnic backgrounds.

As it is part of the U.S., English is the official and predominant language in Oahu. You will, of course, hear other languages in certain locales, such as Chinese in Chinatown. Although Hawaiian is the state's native tongue (as reflected in place names), the language is rarely, if ever used by the locals. Many Hawaiian words, however, are liberally sprinkled in to conversations in day-to-day English. There is also a local “slang language” of Hawaiian Pidgin, which is a mixture of English, Hawaiian, and other Asian languages.

While the predominant ethnic groups on Oahu are Polynesian/Hawaiian and Asian, there is a large percentage of Caucasians and mixed population (made up of other various ethnic groups). Perhaps the most “dominant” ethnic presence on the island, in terms of tourists, business, and government, are the Japanese.

The locals in Honolulu are much like residents of other large urban centers, although perhaps a bit more “laid back.” Outside of Honolulu, the locals are more true to the stereotype of residents of an island paradise. Tending to be warm, giving, and friendly, the people are emotionally linked to the land and water and everything it has to offer.

Most of Oahu is tourist-oriented, and some say that “true Hawaii” is absent from Oahu because of this. This is surely not the case on the island's northwest coast, including the town of Waianae. There, you can see the locals in a more Hawaiian environment.